The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-19

lessness on the part OF the superln'
tenient in making contracts With
them, whereby ,hs amount due the
State was consumed In improvement 8
and repairs. They 20 on TO show that
in evsly instance there were gross
over cha ges, and they went to the
lrduble to have the character OF the
work passed on by skil!ful and high
priced architect. For instance, this
item Ia cited: "To building steps in
tower, putting up ore modern tower,
complete with eighty foot wall, and
tearing down old tower and wall
verbal contrc J, SS8iS." When, in
TACT, sccordirg TO the architects esti'
mats, the entire work should not have
cost exceeding $l,705 80. Another
ives ior building the dining room,
the lestees got credit OF $,9l7 "A,
when the real cost should not have
exc eded S2il4, This was In the set
tlement Of 1885.
In several instances the same job is
charged for twice and allowed. The
report Is voluminous and is q recital
Of the most iglsripg frauds upon ths
State. The contract with the leesses
was that they were to pay the Safe
$39, ,420 annually, but according TO
this rapport more than three-fouitas OF
this sum was consumed In repairs
which the leesees put their own esti.
mate upon. The committee WAS d.
vided, and Q minority report sgLed
by two member, was submitted deny
ing In tote the facts set forth by the
mi ority. This necessitattd d the hp-
pointment Of a special committee,
which reviewed the whole subj sct
aud sttem pied TO reconcile the diHtr-
ences between the two rtp,rts, but
without effect, and concluded by
7, commencing that the law bo chang
cd 30 as TO require oil contracts and
bills 10 be approved In writing where
they exceed 500.
Thus has the penitentisry, the larg.
tst institution in the State, been run
As shown by the Cove nor's state
menr, for years II was not selftupport-
ing, and only during two years has he
been able to make II ray any revenue
TO the State. Now Hamilton and his
bondsmen are beirg sued for $3.50
which they fraudulently withheld from
the State treasury. But beyond AID
above all the corruption that 10
charged, of all the unholy IL Huences
which Hamilton has, with subtle
hand, brought 10 b ar on the msn
and things, who succumbed to his
smooth and oily ways, bedragglipg the
once fair name Of the grand old State
in the slime Of pollution and idishonor,
there comes another chapter from the
bloody and death stained records Of
the penitentiary, which, through the
pains and groans vi PROSTATE victims
sppesls 10 every sense OF humanity for
pslliation and redress. II wss stated In
todsys APPEAL, that OF the twenty elk
prisoners In the hospital, none OF them
wsre there by reason OF any mistreat-
ment In the walls, but that they had
recently BEEN brought there IRON the
convict camps Of j. P. Mcdonald a
Co, and Fisher a Yerser. Only Ave
were from the latter camp. The ma
jority OF these men are objects OF the
keenest pity. The hospital Il iothiug
more than q ball some 60x30 feet,
and the steward Ia a convict. All oi
the inmates are colored. On entering
with DR.. johnson and Col. Heury,
some Of the patients looked up In slar.
ing wondefment at their visitpra One
OF the frs. who wss spoken 70 wac q
once stalwArt fellow, row Absst twsd.
ty-eight years Old, who eat on hia
narrow iron bed, evidently sufftring
no little pain. for both o. his 70 4 we're
literally rotten and we're sluushinR
awsy, the effect Of frost bite; evsiy
toe was entirely gone. He bad bten
mtde 10 work ia The trenches last
winter either with no shoes at sil, OF
tuoh tha. oforded DO prols clion. A
little farther on was another yourg
fellow, who had 10 lay on bis ;tomsch,
by reason Of The deep running sore on
his back, caused by tho Lash. He vhs
also pTostrsted from slow fever, but
thought he wa getting better" A
u tie beyond the latter, and near the
middle aisle, was an iron couch with
one cf the hsayy grey blankets thrown
entirely over II. Apparently II was
not occupied, but when the woolsn
covering was thrown slightly back, q
piiisble sight was revealed. No. 43t
was dead II had been several month,
tince he had laid dosn the iron spade
and was "shlpped" 10 the walls tc
bresthe away the narrowing life Of I
consumptive. he had died bat few
minutes before, bat the suffering o.
his iellos patients made them obli,i
ous 10 the presence Of death, aud
doubtless many Of them would hay,
woleo med the stern messenger.
g. svsrsl Others will soon do 90, for ,h,
only diferetcs between them and
their dead fellow was that their pulss,
still beat, Tor they are In the lAsi
slsges of consumption, contracted
la the trenches. Another pool
wretch, ewho ssemad ~ tut
Ter intensely, ay it'll,
10 the rear Of the dead man. lie hat
been made 10 spade In his bare ieet
and the constant prodding OF the iror
substance had irriia'ed the membel
until II was q massive sore. The bone
bad become rotten, aud from the In
step the small bones exuded, and near
ly Every morning the doctor took then
out. In addition 10 this his uppe
body bore grea, welts OF tcars, wher'
he had been beaten. Ia the rear, I,
the left, was q man With bis head band
sged 10 keep the dies from the slough!
sores, both on the side and top Of hi
tead, this result Of blows from . Will
but or club.
There we're others In like condition
but 70 20 into each and every harrow
ing detail Of personal suffering seel